Today's columnist, Alison Teal: People deserve to know

The contract was negotiated by the Lib Dems, then Labour, behind closed doors. It was never debated in the council chamber or looked at by a scrutiny board.

At the time only the Green councillors questioned the deal, pointing out that it was inflexible, anti-democratic and hugely expensive.

The problems of PFI contracts were known – some closed schools were still having to pay cleaning and heating costs.

The Treasury Select Committee reported that they were an extremely inefficient method of financing projects and did not provide good value for money.

Unfortunately, as many politicians have done in the past, Sheffield’s Council leaders chose privatisation and a quick fix, leaving future generations to pick up the tab.

One day our children will ask us why we let this happen.

While most council services have been cut to the bone with yearly budget cuts, the cost of road maintenance is increasing by £1.8 million every year.

That’s more than enough to keep funding the city’s libraries, keep Don Valley Stadium open and much more.

Meanwhile, cuts are being made to the officers overseeing the contract.

But a deal is a deal. We will all be paying for it long after those who signed it have moved on.

We are locked into the contract for decades, any renegotiation will cost a fortune in accountants’ and lawyers’ fees and Amey will always benefit.

The least the people of Sheffield deserve is to know what has been signed on our behalf.

If we know what has been agreed, we can make sure Amey are doing the job they promised and talk about what we think would be sensible changes.

Our council should not be ignoring Freedom of Information requests and avoiding questions.

This is the 21st century, we should have transparency and open government.

Council meetings should be recorded and made available to everyone.

Contracts paid for with public money should be open to public scrutiny.

* Alison Teal, Nether Edge & Sharrow Green Party